Looking back at '03

It's hard to believe it is 2004 already. It feels like we just kicked off 2003.

Time flies when you are busy and it has been a busy year at the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce. The following is just a summary of what we have been busy with in 2003.

We made 12,364 referrals to our member businesses, gave out over 6,000 city maps, approximately 500 phone books and information on entertainment and shopping opportunities, just to name a few. The Chamber tries to be an information center for visitors and residents in the Sikeston area and supply demographic, real estate and tax information to prospective businesses. We have the traditional walk in and phone traffic and continue to see an increase in our Internet traffic through our Website: www.sikeston.net.

If you have not been on our website, please check it out. We continue to make changes and additions to it. We have added a restaurant guide featuring our member residents. We are currently working on a wedding guide featuring our members who provide services for this special event. These are "quick references" that will hopefully make the consumer's life a little easier. Keep checking our website for new additions throughout 2004.

With the new year, the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce will be gearing up for our Annual Business Education EXPO that is scheduled for Feb. 19 at the Sikeston Field House. We have changed the times for the EXPO to 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Area high school seniors, along with the general public, will be viewing the various vender booths.

The SACC Annual Awards Banquet has been scheduled for April 1, so mark your calendar to attend this exciting event that recognizes the Sikeston area's best.

I also want to mention that we are hard at work on our third edition of the Images of Sikeston magazine which will be available the first part of April. For more information on these projects and other community events, go to our Website at www.sikeston.net (community calendar) or call the Chamber at 471-2498.

Finally, I would like to thank our 2003 Corporate Sponsors for their support this past year. First Security State Bank, Pepsi Cola, US Bank, The First National Bank, First State Bank, Alliance Bank, First Midwest Bank, Sikeston Factory Outlet Stores, Food Giant Supermarkets, Steward Steel Inc., Ferguson Medical Group, Health Facilities Management, Pullen Brothers Inc., Carnell Collision Repair, Manpower, Noranda Aluminum, Zimmer Radio Group, Sikeston Jaycees, Sikeston Motor Company, Standard Democrat and Sikeston Public Schools. These businesses and groups go the extra mile to help make the Sikeston area a better place to live and work.